Digital Accessibility Community of Practice (DACoP)
The DACoP is a welcoming, inclusive space for people across Aotearoa New Zealand to connect, share, and learn about making digital experiences more accessible.
What DACoP is about
DACoP brings together people from the public and private sectors who care about digital accessibility. Each month there are presentations and discussions that explore practical solutions, share lessons learned, and highlight different approaches to accessibility.
It’s a place to:
- hear from others working in the field
- ask questions — technical, theoretical, or practical
- discover best practices and new resources
- connect with a supportive network of peers.
Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, DACoP is here to support your journey.
Who can join
DACoP is open to anyone with an interest in digital accessibility. You do not need to work for government and you do not need to be an expert — just be curious and keen to learn. The community includes designers, developers, policy advisors, testers, content creators and more.
Who runs DACoP
DACoP is hosted by the Web Standards team at the Department of Internal Affairs — Te Tari Taiwhenua (DIA). The team supports the work of the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) by maintaining the NZ Government Web Standards and helping government agencies to meet them.
DACoP mailing list
DACoP members will receive 1 email a month including things like:
- topics of interest from the community
- upcoming presentations
- recent accessibility guidance and resources
- news or invitations to accessibility-related events
- updates from the Web Standards team.
To opt out at any time, email web.standards@dia.govt.nz. You’re still welcome to attend sessions even if you’re not on the mailing list.
Monthly sessions
DACoP meets online using Microsoft Teams on the last Thursday of each month, from 10am to 12pm. Attendance is free and you can come and go as you like, depending on your schedule.
To get the Teams link, email web.standards@dia.govt.nz.
Session format
Each session typically includes 1 or 2 presentations, followed by open discussion. The format is informal and supportive — perfect for asking questions and sharing ideas.
Sessions are not recorded
To foster open conversation, sessions are not recorded. We only record the organisations represented and the topics discussed.
Upcoming presentations
Getting accessibility ready for a Design System
Steve Barnett from Intopia will talk about how design systems help teams make more accessible products and services.
How do we ensure the components in our design systems are as accessible as possible?
Steve will use a real-world example to show what accessibility ready means for components in a design system and what happened 6 months after it went live.
Free accessibility tools and how to use them
Maia Miller from Aleph Accessibility will explore a range of free tools that fit into each part of the development lifecycle. These can help you check, improve and maintain accessibility in your digital products.
Utility links and page information
Last updated
